In our increasingly technology driven world it is more important than ever to encourage children to spend as much time outdoors as possible to nurture their growing bodies and minds. Making your garden a child-friendly environment will give them excitement about stepping out into the fresh air whilst also ensuring that their safety is paramount.

As children grow older, unsupervised play will become more and more common so we must ensure that the area is safe, secure and conducive to allowing their creativity to flourish. Below, garden design expert Harry Bodell provides you with everything you need to know.

Here are some simple, cheap and effective ways to improve any garden area for children of all ages:

Avoid Ponds and Water Features

Water features and ponds can make beautiful additions to a garden designed for adults, but if you have young children, they are best avoided in terms of safety concerns. Even the smallest of water features could pose a potential risk if a child falls into it and open ponds are a huge hazard.

In addition to this, over time sitting water will become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria that could make your children ill if they become exposed. If you already have a pond in your garden, a good solution is to install safety grids over the surface or place fences around it to prevent children from accessing the area.

Monitor Your Plants

Another big safety consideration when creating a child-friendly garden is being wary about any plants that could be potentially toxic to your children, alongside pets such as dogs and cats. Serious poisoning from plants is a very rare occurrence in the UK. However, it is important to take precautions to prevent even minor discomfort.

Before buying any new plants for your garden, it is a good idea to check for any potential toxins they may carry so that you can be aware of the risks. Once you have a good awareness it is then key to educate your children on any potential dangers. For younger children it may be best to block off or completely remove any plants that could cause them harm if they touch it or put it in their mouths.

Install Artificial Grass

The lawn area can be a source of delight for children all year round for running around, playing ball games and a range of other activities. But during the rainy season it can easily become a waterlogged mess that just gets worse and worse the more it is trampled on. Artificial turf is a great solution that will allow children to get straight back outside when it dries up.

Adding a foam underlay to the artificial grass will add cushioning, making it much safer than a regular hard grassy surface when it comes to the inevitable trips and falls that our children will encounter. It can also make a much more comfortable environment during the spring and summer months for children who suffer from hay fever and grass pollen allergies.

Set Up Activity Zones

Encouraging children to embrace and gain a better understanding of nature is key to their development and love of the outdoors. Setting up activities that will foster exploration is a great way to get them involved. One fun idea is to create a bug hotel with your children – they will get a real sense of purpose building it and checking each day to see the minibeasts that have come to visit.

Children also love getting their hands dirty, and a mud kitchen will give them a great excuse to do so. Set up a simple work surface adorned with pots, pans and child-friendly utensils to allow them hours of fun and entertainment creating the perfect mud pies!

Give Them a Gardening Plot

Another wonderful way for children to learn about nature whilst building their self-esteem is through growing plants and flowers. From planting seeds, to regularly tending and nurturing young plants, they will receive constant boosts to feelings of achievement and giving them their own space to care for will really add to their sense of pride.

Within reason, it is a good idea to give your children freedom of choice over what they grow in order to keep them engaged. Fruit and vegetables can be an excellent choice to encourage as they can eat what they grow, providing a fun and satisfying way to promote healthy eating.

Create a Designated Play Area

Cordoning off a designated play area within your garden will give children their own special space that they can call their own. A small fenced off area consisting of artificial grass, sand, and bark mulch will make the ideal environment for play.

Fill the area with toys, climbing frames, swings and whatever else your space and budget allows for to keep your children busy. This will allow them to freely indulge in fun and exercise without compromising the rest of your garden and delicate plants that could become damaged during a rough play session.

Allocate an Area for Adults

The garden area should be a wonderful haven of enjoyment and relaxation for the whole family, so don’t forget to make space for the adults! This will give you your own personal space to relax and enjoy the outdoors whilst keeping a close eye on young children as they play.

A patio area near the house is perfect for this, as it will give you a view over the entire garden as your children play in the various zones you have set up. Although we refer to this as the adult area, it is important that children can access it whenever they wish to foster the important elements of social interaction and family bonds.

Final Thoughts

Your garden should be the ideal space to encourage children to get outside and enjoy the fresh outdoor air. It should have plenty of points of interest to keep them busy and feed their imagination.

Safety should be the key focus at all times and creating the play zones and following the precautions discussed in this article will help you to create a safe environment where children can play unsupervised and the entire family can relax and enjoy the sanctuary of the garden!